According to an article published in Bangkok Post today, the non showing of top seeds in the recently concluded Bangkok Open was a major blow. The article goes on to say that the scheduling of the tournament, right after Davis cup, was the major factor in the non shows.
I remember, how in the past the BKK open, had a very good attendance from the top ranked players. The first edition in 2003, was quite exciting with the final between Ferrero and Dent, which Dent won. The next 2 were won by Federer, and last year by Blake. With the exception of Dent all winners were top Ten ranked. This proves that those who call the tournament "Mickey Mouse", don't have a clue to what they are talking about. This year was an exception and quite unfortunate. I hope the same thing doesn't happen next year.

Twins shone light on gloomy Thailand Open

RAVIPAN PAVASUTHIPAND

Andy Roddick
Twin brothers Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana recorded a sensational victory at the Thailand Open but that win at the packed Impact Arena on Sunday was probably the lone bright spot for the $550,000 tournament.

The news regarding the Thailand Open fell somewhere short of positive this past week.

The tournament was hard hit by a series of high-profile withdrawals and disappointed fans hit out at organisers for failing to bring in the world's top players as they had earlier promised.

The tournament got off to the worst possible start when top seed and world number two Rafael Nadal pulled out of the event because of the persistent knee injury he suffered at the US Open.

Then came another big disappointment when Serb rising star and world number three Novak Djokovic joined Nadal on the list of absentees citing injury after undertaking Davis Cup duty for his country.

The organisers and sponsors then suffered a knockout blow when American third seed Andy Roddick, who at least showed up for the tournament, pulled out after suffering an injury during practice a day after he arrived in Bangkok.

However Sonchat and Sanchai's progress through the draw and their eventual victory saved the much-criticised tournament to a certain extent and the big crowd at the Impact Arena on final day confirmed that.

The twins captured their first ever ATP doubles title after coming from behind to upset French third seeds Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut 3-6, 7-5, 10-7 in the final.

They also made tennis history by becoming the first Thai players to win an ATP doubles event.

It was a great final and the twins' victory certainly put a smile on everyone's face at the stadium _ except maybe a small section of French supporters!

I dread to think what a kind of an atmosphere it would be like if the twins didn't make it to the final.

The biggest problem the Thailand Open organizers face, and always will do, is timing.

The tournament normally starts right after a Davis Cup weekend.

Late September is when that competition gets to the crunch, which means that most of the top players would be involved in those Cup ties.

How would you try to expect those guys to fly half way around the world right after a gruelling Davis Cup World Group semi-final or a World Group Play-off? It's a bit difficult I think.

Also the fact that the tournament takes place at the end of September, which is so close to the end of the season, means that all the top players who have qualified for the season-ending Masters Cup might not be bothered to come and play in this part of the world when they don't really have to.

And when you bring into mind the fact that these players have been competing week in week out for nine months, injuries are almost inevitable.

In its first few years, the Thailand Open was a great success following the rise of Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan in the world rankings.

The tournament successfully built on Paradorn's popularity and the fact that it could bring Swiss world number one Roger Federer to Bangkok two years in a row (2004-05 and he won it on both occasions) also added an extra interest among the fans.

This year, however, was a different story. Paradorn, who has been injured for a long time, was a definite no-show. Danai was not quite capable of shouldering the hopes of the nation while other younger players still can't make the grade.

Those facts coupled with late withdrawals by all the top stars really put the organisers under pressure.

In a way, I kind of sympathise with the organisers who were heavily criticized because of very unfortunate circumstances.

As an avid tennis fan, I sincerely hope we don't have to go through the same scenario next year.

After this year's problems, the organisers know they're in for a rough time to win back the fans' faith.

I was happy to see that the twins were doing so well. Esp in a tounry in their general area of the world

canbera

10-03-2007, 04:10 PM

one Wildcard less for a doubles team from Asia, that must be good news for the ATF.

DhammaTiger

10-03-2007, 11:24 PM

Why does it randomly say Andy Roddick at the top?

I was happy to see that the twins were doing so well. Esp in a tounry in their general area of the world

Because Iremoved the picture of Andy Roddick but forgot to remove his name :lol:

DhammaTiger

10-05-2007, 01:24 AM

Interview with Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana (http://www.menstennisforums.com/showvdo.php?id=254&name=Sports&cateid=7)
Video clip of interview of the sensational Twins, was posted on The Nation website. Here you can watch: